Sydney’s
Baker & Provan has unveiled the first of 89 top-line 6x6 Supacat Specialist
Vehicles Commandos vehicles manufactured for the Australian Defense Forces.
Defence Minister David Johnston will unveil the first Australian assembled
vehicle at St Marys in Sydney on Friday, August 29, 2014.

New Supacat Specialist Operations Vehicles Commandos

The
Australian version is fitted with 50 calibre and 7.62mm machine guns and
numerous other electronic and weapons systems including so-called blue
force trackers so they can be monitored by friendly forces.

News Corp reports that the first of the Supacat vehicles to be made in
Australia was inspected by defence minister David Johnston at Baker &
Provan’s St Mary’s site, where the company’s 55 workers
will assemble the vehicles under a $130 million contract.

The new vehicles are based on Supacat’s High Mobility Transporter
Extenda, which can be configured as a 4x4 or 6x6 and weighs up to a whopping
10.5 tonnes.

The vehicles are the latest version of Supacat's HMT (High Mobility Transport)
Extenda and are convertible to 4x4 or 6x6 configurations. They are used
worldwide, including by the US Delta Force and the British SAS. The Australian
SAS in Perth currently has a 31-vehicle fleet of the vehicles.

The New Supacats will be used by the Australian Defence Force’s
special operations unit, used in combat to protect soliders while driving
across battlezones, including near improvised explosive devices and other
rocket-propelled grenades.

The Supacat has an optional mine blast and ballistic protection kit and
can also be fitted with mission hampers, weapons, communications and force
protection equipment to suit a wide range of operational roles.

Australian Defence Minister David Johnston announces the $130 million
contract at Baker and Provan. Picture: Matt Sullivan